State of the art

And art of the state: The new Pasadena Museum of California Art is
just one part of the city's cultural renaissance

The view from the rooftop terrace of Robert and Arlene Oltman's
new Pasadena residence is breathtaking: vistas of Old Pasadena
landmarks―the St. Andrew's bell tower, city hall's red-tiled
dome―with the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop. It's the
sort of scene designed for plein air painters trying to capture the
golden light and Castillian architecture that have long made the
city a favorite artists' subject.

That is just as it should be. The Oltmans' new digs sit atop
their Pasadena Museum of California Art. Opened in June, it's the
only museum dedicated exclusively to the display of California art,
architecture, and design.

The Oltmans bought the empty lot on Union Street several years
ago with the idea of building a facility that could serve as both
museum and residence. "Originally it was just going to be a little
mom-and-pop museum," says Robert Oltman, "but the concept kept
growing."

Now the museum is an important link in an expanding Pasadena art
circuit. That circuit includes the well-known Norton Simon and the
renovated Armory Center for the Arts, as well as a gallery scene
fed by artists who've studied at Pasadena's Art Center College of
Design. "The new Pasadena museum really whets everyone's appetite
for California art," says Diane Nelson of DNFA Gallery.

Pasadena's art district is particularly accessible
too―even on foot. The Pasadena Museum of California Art is
next door to the Pacific Asia Museum (which maintains a collection
of Asian art and artifacts) and is a block north of the new Paseo
Colorado (with upscale retailers and restaurants, and convenient
parking). The Armory Center for the Arts is in Old Pasadena, a few
blocks west. A few blocks farther west, the Norton Simon might be a
bit of a hike, but a free shuttle service, Pasadena ARTS buses,
runs up and down Colorado Boulevard and will stop near the Norton
Simon's gates.